Electric switch



Aug. 7, 1945. H. c. BQLLEYl ETAL 2,380,933

ELECTRIC ,SWITCH Filed May 29, 1941 :Smc/e/ C'. .5a/lef Elmer 5, cfa/www2 INVENTORS.

y MMX/@444% Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Herschel C. Bolley and Elmer E. Johnson, Bronson, Mich., assignors to H. A. Douglas Mfg. Co., Bronson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 29, 1941, Serial No. 395,806

` (ci. 20o-16) 7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical switches and more particularly has to do with an electric switch of the reciprocatory type, primarily adapted for use in conjunction with automotive electrical apparatus'.

One particular object of the invention is to provide improved bridge means and improved means for detachably connecting the same with respect to operating means therefor.

Another object is to provide improved means associated with the bridge means for mechanically predetermining the on and "off positions of the switch.

A further object is to provide an electric switch consisting of Pvery few parts which may be economically manufactured and assembled on a production basis.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent after considering the description hereinafter set forth in conjunction with the drawing annexed hereto.

In the drawing wherein the parts of the switch are designated by numerals:

Figure 1 is a top view of the switch;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken through a part of the switch illustrated in Figure 1, for the purpose of showing certain details of construction, and that the switch is in an open circuit position;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 3 3 of Figure 2, showing other details of construction, particularly the construction of the bridge means and parts associated therewith; and

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view in elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2, depicting the switch in a circuit closing position.

Referring to the drawing, the electric switch, among other things, includes a switch casing gen-- erally designated I, con-tact carrier means 2, bridge means 3 supported on operating means 4 for moving the bridge means with respect to contacts carried by the carrier means 2, and positioning means 5 for of the bridge means 3.

Considering first the details of construction with respect to the switch casing I, same is preferably made in the form of a generally rectangular box, having a bottom wall 6, side walls 1, and end walls 8 and 9. In order to reenforce the casing, the side walls are preferably provided with integral lateral portions I0 which are folded over tov engage the outer surfaces of the end Walls 8 and 9 as clearly shown in Figures l and 2. Ob-

predetermining the positions" viously, the various walls may be otherwise connected together to form a substantial casing.

Any desirable means may be employed for attaching the switch to a support, but as herein shown, a tubular element I I is used for this purpose; and at the same time provides a bearing for the operating means or rod 4. One extremity of this element. has a protuberance which fits within a round aperture provided therefor in the end wall 9 of the switch casing and is overset upon its inner surface as indicated at I 2. The 0P- posite extremity I3 is provided with an exteriorly threaded portion which is adapted to be inserted through an aperture provided therefor in a support I4, such as an instrument panel of an auto mobile. The element II is preferably provided with an enlargement I5 intermediate its extremities, and is adapted to engage the rear side of the support I4. A nut I6 is cooperable with the threaded portion of the extremity I3 for clamping the-support between the enlargement I5 and tween the support I4 and the nut I6.

Moreover, the extremity I3 of the element is preferably provided with an inwardly extending annular seat I9, within which is disposed a ring Washer 20 constructed of some desirable fibrous material. This washer is secured in place by anging over a portion of the extremity as indicated at 2I in Figure 2. The washer 20 is of such a character that same isV adapted to engage or bear against the rod 4, and serves to exclude entry of dust and other foreign matter into the switch casing through the tubular element. The outer extremity of the rod 4 may be provided with ,a handle 0r knob 22, which may be secured torthe rod in any desirable manner, such as by swaging, as illustrated. -Thus, it will be evident that the tubular element I I provides means for detachably securing the switch with respect to a support and at the same time provides a bearing -for the operating means or reciprocating rod tremity projects outwardly with respect to the end wall 8 of the casing. This member 23 of'- insulating material is preferably provided with a generally centrally disposed square aperture 26, and the corners of the extremity 24 arel preferably notched as indicated at 21. Each of the side Walls 1, and end wall 3 of the switch casing is provided with a continuation 23, which continuations project through the aperture 26 and notches 21, and are clinched over and upon the upper surface of the carrier member 23 whereby to permanently secure the member to the casing, all of which is clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

The electrical connection means or contact means carried by the insulating member 23 will now be considered. A pair of fuse clips 29 and 30 are permanently secured to the respective extremities of the carrier 23 by means of rivets 3l and 32, respectively. A conventional fuse 33 is shown connected to the clips 25 and 30, for a purpose which is obvious. The rivet 32 which secures the fuse clip 3U to the extremity 24 of the carrier, as clearly illustrated in 4Figures 2 through 4, is provided with an enlarged annular fiat head contact portion 34 which engages the lower surface of the carrier. The stem portion of the rivet fits with an aperture provided therefor in the carrier, and its upper end is overset upon the base portion of the clip 30. In order to positively prevent rotation of the clips 23 and 30, the base of each clip is preferably provided with a down-turned integral lug-portion 35 which projects into an aperture 36 provided therefor in the carrier.

sion or terminal post 31 having a screw 38 whereby a conductor wire leading from a battery or other source may be detachably connected thereto.

A terminal post 39 is secured to the extremity 24 of the carrier opposite and in spaced apart relation to the clip 30 by means of a contact rivet 40. The post 39 includes, among other things, a base portion 4| which engages the upper surface of the carrier, and an upstanding portion 42 provided with a screw 43 whereby a conductor wire may be detachably connected to the post. In order to prevent anypossible rotation of the post with respect to the carrier, one extremity of the base portion 4l is provided with an integral lug portion 44 which projects downwardly 'into an aperture 45 provided therefor in the carrier, substantially in the same manner as the lugs 35 of the clips project into apertures 35. The rivet. has an enlarged head which provides a contact corresponding to the contact head 34 of rivet 32. The heads of the rivets 32 and 43 project outwardly with reference to the lower surface of the carrier member 23, and in order to provide a smooth continuous bearing surface for the bridge means 3, a at spacer member 46 ofinsulating material is interposed between the upper extremity of the switch casing and the carrier 23. This member is provided with a pair of circular apertures which receive and`V heads of the rivets 32 and 40, and is of a thickness corresponding tothe thickness of the heads of the rivets so that the lower surface of the heads are positioned substantially flush with the lower surface of the member. YThe extremities of the spacer member are proferablyprovided with suitable notches which receive the locking continuations or fingers 23 of the switch casing. It is, of course, to be understood that if found desirable the' spacer member 43 could recesses for receiving the heads of the contact The clip 29 secured to the free extremity 25 of the carrier is provided with an extenrivets to place the contacting surfaces of the heads flush with respect to the lower surface oi the carrier.

The carrier 41 and bridge means 3 mounted thereon will now be' described. The carrier is proferably made from sheet stock, for example,

of paper or fiber Bakelite, and constructed to include a lower enlarged generally rectangular portion 48, and an upper generally rectangular portion 43 of a size somewhat smaller than the enlarged portion, as clearly illustrated in F18- ure 3. A vertical entrance slot 53 extends inwardly or upwardly from the lower marginal surface yof the lower enlarged rectangular portion 43 and'terminates in a rounded 'seat 5I. The slot 50 is of a width to permit entry of the round reduced portion or neck 52, provided on the operating rod 4, to the 'seat 5| when the bridge carrier 41 is dropped into place. Itshould be noted that the thickness of the bridge carrier 41 is slightly less than the length of the reduced portion 52 of the rod so that the flat planar surfaces of the carrier more or less engage the abutments provided adjacent the extremities of the reduced portion whereby to normally maintain the carrier in a substantially vertical position, or in a position transverse with respect to thelongitudinel axis of the rod. This arrangement of the bridge carrier is considered unique asfit is held on end or in an upstanding position. The bridge means 3 is preferably box shape ir: form having a rectangular top portion 53, a pair of side walls 54, and a pair of end walls 55, which walls partially enclose and slidably engagey the upper portion 43 of the bridge carrier. The side and end walls of the bridge and the upper portion 43 of the carrier are so constructed and arranged that the bridge will not tilt or wobble when moved with respect to the rivet contacts 32 and 43 mounted on the carrier or switch back 23. The top portion 53 is preferably provided with a plurality of upstanding rounded contact portions Il; and each of the side walls 54 with a generally semi-circular aperture l1, which apertures provide clearance so that the bridge means 3 will not engage the rod 4 to cause a short circuit.

Resilient means preferably in the form of a leaf spring 53 is interposed between the top wall 53 of the bridge and the top marginal edge I3 of the carrier. This spring includes a more or less central flat portion 33 which bears against the top' wall 53 of the bridge, and a pair of yieldable curved leg portions 3| which bear against the edge 53 of the carrier for urging the bridge upwardly for engagement with either the spacerv member 43 or the contact rivets 32 and 43.

As clearly shown in Figure 2, when the contact portions 53 of the bridge 3 are in` engagement with the spacer member 43, the switch is in open circuit position, and when the bridge means is moved to the position shown in Figure 4 by the operating rod 4, the contact portions I3 of the bridge will simultaneously engage the held portions of the rivets 32 and 43 to close an electric circuit, assuming of course that the switch is properly hooked up with a source of electrical energy, such as a storage battery. In circuit closing position, current will flow from the clip 29 through fuse 33, clip 33, rivet 32, to the bridge 3, and from the bridge through the rivet 43 to the terminal post 33,

As mentioned above. one object of the invention is; to provide improved, means :for spredetermin-ing th-eforr andoft positions. of fthe-electric switch, andgthis meansfwill now-befdescribedi The posi,- tioning..:means.;;. abovereferredfto, iseonnectedfto the rody .hand preferably-madein the formy of a slid'emember Miwhichslidably engages the upper surfacefof thabottomwall 6 of; theiswitchcasing. The bottornwall off,the1casing.adjacent the end walt 8 is provided: with aplurality of conical shaped depressionsfor seats; 62;'and 63 midway be,- tween: the: side walls-lf- Ther-slide member. 64 is preferablyiin-.the form ofpaplate, made rectangular.: in shape; Landnhasfaf depression or detentv 65 near one;en-dffwllichv isiadapted to. cooperate with the :conicalf seats.: 62;.and 613, as clearly .shown in Figures 2 andai; Eachmarginal sideot vthe plate membere is preferably?, interrupted and provided with awpainotspacedapartupturned abutments 66. The space between each pair of abutments more'or less corresponds to the thickness of the bridge carrier so that the lower portion 48 of the carrier is seated or confined between the abutments. Due to the resilient action exerted by the leaf spring 58 the bridge 3 is urged upwardly with respect to the contact rivets 32 and 40, and the bridge carrier 41 is pressed downwardly and held into connecting relation with the neck 52 of the rod 4, and the carrier presses the plate member 65 into bearing relation with the upper surface of the bottom wall 6 of the switch casing. In other words, the leaf spring has a direct as well as an indirect eiect upon a majority of the parts which are actuated or reciprocated by means of the rod 4.

As clearly shown in Figure 2, the detent 65 is disposed in the seat 62 to normally maintain the switch in an open circuit position, in which posi-l tion, the contact portions 56 of the bridge means engage the spacer member 46 of insulating material. When the rod member 4 is pulled outwardly t0 the extent desired, the detent 65 rides out of the seat 62 lifting the plate upwardly, com pressing the leaf spring 58, whereupon the detent 65 snaps into the seat 63, to hold the switch in a closed circuit position, in which position, the contact portions of the bridge will engage the rivet contacts 32 and 40 carried by the switch back 23. The length of the slide plate 64 with reference to the length of the switch casing is such that one end of the plate is adapted to engage the end wall 8 of the casing to provide a stop so that the detent 65 will drop or snap into the pocket or seat 62 when the bridge means is 'moved to open circuit position as illustrated in Figure 2, and the opposite end or extremity of the slide plate upon engaging the end wall 9 of the casing will cause the detent 65 to drop or snap into the seat 63 to maintain the switch in circuit closing position. The extremity of the slide plate, just referred to, is preferably provided with a semi-circular notch 61 so as to provide clearance and prevent the plate from engaging the overset portion I2 of the tubular element I I.

Having thus described our invention, it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention; and, therefore, we do not Wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combina tion of parts herein shown and described.

We claim:

l. An electric switch including, a casing, a carrier carrying contacts mounted on said casing, a bridge carrier carrying a bridge mounted in said casing, means loosely secured to the bridge carrier-ion reciprocating.; thel carrierv and bridge, positioning: meansconnected t0. Said bridge carrier for-movement therewith, means 0n the.. Casing cooperable withV said positioning mea-nsl for predeterminuing at, least the on position of the switcinv @ridi means,l acting to, hold thel carrier to the recipocating means; and` urgey said bridge in a plane transverse to the axis of said operating means, bridge means. carried by the upper edge of; said, piece, for engagement with said contact means, and means,v connected to the lower edge of said piece cooperable with said casing in a manner whereby to predetermine at least the on position of said switch.

3. An operating member for an electric switch, said member being providediwith a reduced portion intermediate its extremities, a flat piece of insulating material having an opening therein for receiving the reduced portion of said member in a manner whereby said dat piece is held in a plane substantially transverse to the axis of the member, and bridge means supported adjacent the upper edge of said piece of insulation.

4. An electric switch including, a casing, a carrier carrying contacts mounted on said casing, operating means extendinginto the casing, a at piece of insulation connected to said operating means in a manner whereby said piece is held in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said operating means, bridge means carried by the upper edge of said piece for engagement with said contact means, means associated with the lower edge of said piece cooperable with said casing in a manner whereby to predetermine at least one operating position of the switch, and means pressing' said bridge means in a direction for engagement with said contacts and acting to hold said piece connected to said operating means and at the same time assist in holding said associated means connected to the lower edge of said piece and urge said associated means toward said casing.

5. An electric switch comprising, a housing, a carrier carrying contacts carried by said housing, actuating means projecting into said housing, a bridge carrier carrying bridge means for the contacts connected to said actuating means, said bridge carrier being relatively thin and substantially of uniform thickness and being disposed so that the plane thereof is arranged substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the actuating means, positioning means disposed in said housing and connected to said bridge carrier for cooperation with the housing for predetermining at least one position of the switch, said positioning means being provided with a pair of bifurcations with the actuating means disposed therebetween and the material dening the bifurcations more or less engaging the planar sides of the bridge carrier, and the connections between said positioning means said actuating means and said bridge carrier being arranged in general alignment with each other in a line substantially transverse to the axis of said actuating means. i

6. An electric switch comprising, a housing, a carrier carrying contacts carried by said housing, actuating means projecting into said housing, a bridge carrier carrying bridge means for the contacts connected to said actuating means, said bridge carrier being relatively thin and substantially of uniform thickness and being dis posed so that the plane thereof is arranged substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the actuating means, positioning means disposed in said housing and connected to said bridge carrier for cooperation with the housing for predetermining at least one position of the switch, said positioning means being provided with a pair of bifurcations with the actuating means disposed therebetween and the material dening the bifurcations more or less engaging the planar sides of the bridge carrier, the connections between said positioning means said actuating means and said bridge carrier being arranged in general alignment with each other,

and resilient means disposed in the housing acting on said bridge carrier for urging the same away from the contacts and holding the connections connected in predetermined positions.

7. A subassembly for an electric switch comprising, actuating means and a bridge carrier of insulating material carried by said actuating means, said bridge carrier having flat faces and of substantially uniform thickness, said bridge carrier and said actuating means being so constructed and arranged that the carrier may be detachably connected to the actuating means whereby the plane of either face is arranged substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the actuating means, and bridge means carried by an edge of said bridge carrier.

HERSCHEL C. BOLLEY. ELMER E. JOHNSON. 

